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Community Center maintains slim lead in second day of election results

November 7, 2012

By Ari Cetron

New: Nov. 6, 8:32 p.m.

President, schmesident. How did Sammamish vote on the community center advisory question?

On the second day of results, the center held its narrow 51-49 approval. As of Wednesday evening, 7,522 ballots had indicated support for the project compared to 7,163 against.

The vote is meant to give City Council members a reading on a proposal for the city to spend about $25 million to construct a community and aquatic center, which would be operated by the YMCA.

Today’s results are far from the final tally. As a result of Washington’s mail-in balloting, votes will continue to roll in and be counted for the next few weeks. King County elections typically releases an updated set of results each weekday afternoon. Results will not be considered final until they are certified Nov. 27.

In other local races, there was a pair of contested seats in each of Sammamish’s newly drawn Legislative Districts. In the 41st Legislative District, covering the city south of Southeast Eighth Street and Louis Thompson Road, incumbent Sen. Steve Litzow (R) will beat challenger Maureen Judge and is ahead by an 53-46 margin.

Incumbent Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D) is holding on to a 58-42 lead over challenger Tim Eaves. Incumbent Judy Clibborn (D) was unchallenged, and has gotten 98 percent of the vote.

In the King County Sheriff’s race, Longtime Sheriff’s office spokesman John Urquhart is well ahead of incumbent appointee Steve Strahan 57-42.

In statewide races, Democrat Bob Ferguson has cruised to victory over Regan Dunn in the race for Attorney General 53-47.

Former Congressman Jay Inslee looks poised to become Washington’s next governor. He’s ahead of Attorney General Rob McKenna by an 52-48 margin.

Statewide ballot measures, some of which drew national attention, had expectedly close results. R-74, which would legalize gay marriage, is ahead 53-47. I-502, legalizing marijuana use is also ahead, 56-44. I-1240, legalizing charter schools also looks to be ahead so far 51-49. Tim Eyman’s latest measure, I-1185, which would require a two-thirds majority of the Legislature in order to increase taxes, passed overwhelmingly 64-36.

As expected, Washington State seems likely to support the reelection of Pres. Barack Obama 56-43. National news sources have called the presidential election for Obama.

Wonder how Sammamish voted compared to the rest of the state? Sammamish-specific results for all of the races will be available in early December.

Comments

I’ve called Prop 1 Yes vote the winner, after some number-crunching. Based on history and vote patterns, the No vote would have to win 52% of the remaining estimated outstanding vote to achieve a 50.1% final tally. I don’t believe this is possible. http://tinyurl.com/d6sqqse

James on
November 7th, 2012 9:43 am

Whether it passes or not, the slim margin sends a solid message to the City Council that there is not the overwhelming support that they thought they had for the current plan. Hopefully they will go back to the drawing board and consider other alternatives that could have overwhelming support. I do believe that there are other alternatives that could garner more support.

Fred on
November 7th, 2012 4:11 pm

James, what alternatives do you have in mind? I’d like to hear them.

Frank Blau on
November 8th, 2012 3:52 pm

Let’s me see if I got this right… a majority approves of the expenditure. Now the minority wants to move the goalposts to “overwhelming support”.

Good grief.

Vincent Cucinelli on
November 8th, 2012 8:39 pm

There’s lots of alternatives.. One of the biggest arguements was spending that amount of money. Mabye come back with a plan that wouldn’t require such a large investment for the city. Maybe come back with a clear plan instead of vague details. This project should be something that a majority of the city embraces and not the bickering your seeing from the city council due the lack of overwhelming support for their idea.

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